Category Archives: News

I’ve just been accepted into this exciting show at the Los Gatos Art Museum (see “Hillside Light“). Dropping off my paintings at the jury day was like an old school renuin! So many great local artists in this show. If you’d like to see the best of local Bay Area artists, this is a good show to see. The reception is Sunday, April 2, 1-4pm at the Los Gatos Art Museum. The show will run March 30 – April.29. Art Museum of Los Gatos, 4 Tait Avenue at W. Main St., Los Gatos CAs

To make extra money, I often do Internet Media consulting on the side. I’ve been working on contract with Wells Fargo Bank since November. March 15, I launched “Guided by History“, the first blog by a major US Financial Institution. It’s received great reviews. The blog chronicles the history of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. It mixes first hand accounts of the time, with contemporary stories of survival in the face of disaster. We’ve partnered with the American Red Cross as well.

I will be joining the Verde Artist Guild for this paint-out next weekend. If you’re a collector, this is a good opportunity to watch artists at work, and to discover new talent.March 19 (Sunday)

Please join the Verde Artists for a paint out on March 19 in Palo Alto on Stanford’s campus at Arboretum and Lasuen roads. That is near Arboretum and Quarry Roads. There are eucalyptus and oak trees in a park like setting. We’ll meet at 9am, with a lunch break. At the break, you’re welcome to either bring paintings to share/critique, or share your painting from the morning. Many of us continue to paint through the afternoon as well, but no guarantees.

Wow, what a day today. I happened to be looking for bills to pay on my desk, and came across two letters. They were the SASE (self-address, stamped envelop) letters I’m used to receiving from juried shows that I enter. Of course, I’m naturally excited to get these, but more often than I’d like to, disappointed by the results. I remember one of my favorite teachers and artists (Camille Przwodeck) say that she had a stack of rejection letters, that in the end, become a measure of how far you’ve come. That’s a great attitude to have about shows, and being accepted in general. Do it for yourself, first.

The letters were both acceptance letters! I couldn’t believe it, two in ONE day. Both were for national shows I’d sent slides to before (at least twice), and rejections each time. Wow. So, can’t help being pleased with myself today. Please excuse the gloating, if that’s what it is. I’m just happy.

The third gallery in the past 12 months to close in Half Moon Bay did so today. More than 30 years in business, and the first gallery to show my work. They were so terrific to work with. I wish them well, Teresa, Gene, and Darryl.

Some very nice news today. I wrote a few days ago about the closing of long-time Half Moon Bay gallery, Eriksen. Well, local businesses are stepping up to help out displaced artist’s like me. When I got home, I received a voice-mail from Stephanie, the owner of a new restaurant called the Gazos Grille. She explained how she wants her place to be a reflection of local artists and talent of all kinds. She has live music on the weekends, and the restaurant is filled with local art and crafts. She sounded great. So, I’m going to meet with her next Sunday, see the place, and possibly show my art there.

I’m also going to approach the Garden Gallery in HMB, next door to Eriksen. I’ve always wanted to show there too, but have been loyal to Eriksen. They’re the first gallery to have shown my work, and that has meant a lot to me.

I’ve just finished Kevin MacPherson’s new book, “Reflections on a Pond“, and like all great art books it will be re-read many times until dog-eared and worn. That’s a complement! The book contains one painting for every day of the year of the view of a pond outside his home in New Mexico. Imagine, trying to come up with 365 paintings of the same scene! He pulls it off, and in so teaches a lesson about observation.

You can look at the same site, day after day, and see something different. Of course light changes, weather, and so on–and those changes are obvious. But the series of images demonstrate how the artist really brings the subject to life, by conveing a point of view, or an emotional response. I also found the book a good lesson in subtlety. You can see how incredibly sensitve the artist as by the careful observation and emotion in every paitning. I’ve been thinking of painting a similar series because I can see there are some real lessons to be learned here. There’s a good spot off 280/Edgewood Road that I’m considering, although it’s a rest stop, so not open 24×7. We’ll see. In the meantime, in the coming weeks, I’ll post some of my own paintings that hopefully show I’ve learend something from this great American master.

My show at Viewpoints Gallery is winding down. I’ve received lots of great feedback from attending artists, thank you! Most who attended commented that the paintings where at new level, and I really appreciate that. I worked hard on this show, and am proud of what went into it. Although I’ll be moving from the front wall on Jan 29, I’ll leave the paintings on another wall (near the desk) until at least the first week of February.

The next big event will be Open Studios (May 20/21), although I’ll continue to show at Viewpoints Gallery continuously.

I’m sad to report that the very first gallery to show my work, and the one that has sold the most over the years, is closing. Eriksen Gallery in Half Moon Bay was in business more than 30 years. Teresa Eriksen-Brown, togehter with her husband Gene and gallery staffer Daryll Quan, have been running the gallery since the death of Peggy Eriksen, the gallery founder.

Gene and Teresa really tried to find an owner that would continue to format of showing local, emerging Bay Area artists. Unfortunately, that was not to be. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating what was a great gallery, and wishing Darryl, Gene and Teresa the best moving forward.

I was honoored to participate in the Point Reyes Plein Air 2005 Event. This painting was done of the Marin Headlands from Limantour Beach and expresses the quite and vastness of this beautiful open space.